Claims
- 1. A transducer assembly for use with a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings, the transducer assembly for detecting and converting string vibrations into electrical signals representative of the string vibrations, comprising:
- an elongate housing;
- a plurality of transducers for detecting vibrations of each of the strings individually and converting respective string vibrations into corresponding electrical signals, wherein the plurality of transducers are located within the housing;
- at least one coupling member;
- a quick connect device coupled to the housing with the at least one coupling member for quickly connecting and disconnecting the housing only to a surface of the instrument proximate the strings, wherein the quick connect device comprises at least one suction cup and the coupling member includes a circular opening for receiving a head of the at least one suction cup and securing the suction cup thereto, and upon attachment, the surface of the instrument remains free of any indications related to the quick connect device; and
- means for interfacing the electrical signals with an electronic device.
- 2. The transducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein each transducer produces an electrical signal primarily responsive to movement of a string adjacent thereto.
- 3. The transducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of transducers corresponds in number to the plurality of strings of the instrument, each transducer being located adjacent to a separate one of the strings and each transducer producing an electrical signal primarily responsive to movement of the string adjacent thereto.
- 4. The transducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the quick connect device comprises two suction cups connected to opposite ends of the housing.
- 5. The transducer assembly according to claim 4 wherein the at least one coupling member comprises two coupling members for connecting each of the suction cups to the housing, wherein there is one coupling member for each suction cup.
- 6. The transducer assembly according to claim 5, further comprising means for adjusting the distance between the housing and the strings so that the distance between the transducers and the strings is variable.
- 7. The transducer assembly according to claim 6, wherein the adjusting means comprises a pair of cooperatively engaged threaded members.
- 8. The transducer assembly according to claim 7, wherein the housing comprises a top portion and a bottom portion, the housing top portion having a first end and a second, opposite end, and an annular ring extending outwardly from each of the first end and the second end.
- 9. The transducer assembly of claim 8 wherein the adjusting means comprises a screw at each end of the housing top portion in captured engagement with the associated annular ring and wherein the coupling member includes a second opening receiving an end of the screw so that turning the screw adjusts the distance between the transducers and the strings.
- 10. The transducer assembly of claim 9 further comprising a hooded cover piece for covering each coupling member and the head of the associated suction cup, wherein each cover piece frictionally engages a coupling member.
- 11. The transducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing and the quick connect device are sized for securing the transducer assembly to the surface of the instrument between the instrument surface and the strings.
- 12. The transducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing and the quick connect device are sized for securing the transducer assembly to the surface of the instrument such that the strings are disposed between the instrument surface and the housing.
- 13. The transducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes visual indicia for guiding a user in aligning the transducer assembly with the strings.
- 14. The transducer assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) in electrical communication with the plurality of transducers and the interfacing means comprises a cable connected to the PCB for transmitting the electrical signals to the electronic device.
- 15. A transducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transducers are mounted within the housing in positions which are fixed with respect to each other.
- 16. A transducer assembly according to claim 15, wherein the transducers are mounted in a generally linear orientation in positions having a substantially uniform spacing of about 0.41 inches to about 0.45 inches.
- 17. A transducer assembly for use with a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings, the transducer assembly for detecting and converting string vibrations into electrical signals representative of the string vibrations, comprising:
- an elongate housing having a first end and a second, opposite end;
- a plurality of transducers located within the housing for detecting vibrations of each of the strings individually and converting respective string vibrations into corresponding electrical signals, each transducer producing an electrical signal primarily responsive to movement of a string adjacent thereto;
- a quick connect device for releasably securing the housing only to a surface of the instrument proximate the strings, wherein the surface of the instrument remains free of any indications related to the quick connect device and wherein the quick connect device comprises at least one suction cup;
- at least one coupling device for coupling the housing to the quick connect device, wherein the coupling device includes an annular bore for receiving a head of the at least one suction cup; and
- an output connector in electrical communication with the transducers adapted to be coupled to a communication channel, whereby the electrical signals from the transducers are coupled to the communication channel.
- 18. A transducer assembly according to claim 17, further comprising means for adjusting the position of the housing with respect to the strings.
- 19. A transducer assembly for use with a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings comprising:
- an elongate housing including a top portion having a top surface and opposing side walls and a separate, bottom portion;
- a plurality of transducers located within the housing for detecting vibrations of each of the strings individually and converting respective string vibrations into corresponding electrical signals representative of the string vibrations, each transducer producing an electrical signal primarily responsive to movement of a string adjacent thereto;
- means for releasably securing the housing to the instrument proximate the strings which does not mar the surface of the instrument;
- at least one coupling member having an annular bore for receiving the securing means, wherein the housing top portion is interconnected to the securing means by the at least one coupling member; and
- means for interfacing the electrical signals with an electronic device.
- 20. The transducer assembly according to claim 19 wherein the transducers each comprise a permanent magnet, at least one magnetic core connected to the magnet, and a conductive coil around the core, wherein vibration of a string causes a change in magnetic flux of the core and the change in flux generates an electrical current in the coil representative of the string vibration.
- 21. The transducer assembly of claim 20 wherein the plurality of transducers corresponds in number to the plurality of strings of the stringed instrument, each transducer being located proximate an associated string when the transducer assembly is correctly positioned on the instrument surface.
- 22. The transducer assembly of claim 19 wherein the securing means comprises at least one suction cup.
- 23. The transducer assembly of claim 22 further comprising means for adjusting a distance between the housing and the strings when the transducer assembly is secured to the surface of the instrument.
- 24. The transducer assembly of claim 23 wherein the coupling member is secured to the suction cup, and the adjusting means comprises a screw for threaded engagement with the coupling member, and a cover member in captured engagement with the screw, the cover member enveloping the coupling member and hiding from view the coupling member.
- 25. The transducer assembly of claim 19 further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed within the housing adjacent to the bottom portion for conducting electrical signals received from the transducers.
- 26. A method of detachably securing a plurality of transducers to an instrument having a plurality of strings comprising the steps of:
- providing a housing having a top portion and a bottom portion, the housing top portion having a first end and a second, opposite end, and an annular ring extending outwardly from each of the first end and the second end, the housing having a plurality of transducers located therein, a quick connect device comprising two suction cuds connected to opposite ends of the housing and coupled to the housing by way of a coupling member, wherein each suction cup includes a head and each coupling member includes a circular opening for receiving the head of one of the suction cups for securing the suction cup thereto, a means for adjusting a distance between the housing and the strings comprising a pair of cooperatively engaged threaded members, and a means for interfacing the transducers to an electronic device;
- securing the quick connect device to a surface of the instrument proximate the strings such that the housing is located between the surface and the strings; and
- adjusting the distance between the housing and the strings.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/168,267 filed Dec. 14, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,911, entitled "Electronic Music System" which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/664,208 filed Mar. 4, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,475.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
664208 |
Mar 1991 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
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168267 |
Dec 1993 |
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